Leukaemia drug enters phase III studies in MS

pharmafile | September 28, 2007 | News story | Research and Development  

Patients with multiple sclerosis could benefit from a drug currently used to treat leukaemia, with late-stage trials now commencing.

Discovered by Genzyme and marketed by Bayer Schering, the drug is one of a number of pipeline treatments which could prove more effective than current standard treatment beta interferon.

Alemtuzumab, known as Campath and MabCampath is a monoclonal antibody which binds to a specific target on the surface of cells, CD52, and directs the body's immune system to destroy the cells.

Researchers believe CD52 plays a key role in the progression of MS as well as leukaemia, and the new trials will compare it to beta interferon (specifically Merck Serono's Rebif).

Data from phase II trials suggest patients with relapsing and remitting MS who took alemtuzumab experienced significantly lower risk of their disability growing worse or having another relapse.

Another potential advantage of the drug over beta interferon is much easier medication schedule.  Patients taking alemtuzumab need only two annual cycles, whereas beta interferon is administered three times a week.

Bayer Schering already has its own beta interferon product on the market, Betaferon, but trails behind Rebif, which is Europe's biggest selling MS treatment.

 

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